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SL vs IND: 'India favourites but don't count out Sri Lanka' - Muralitharan

Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes that a victory in the final ODI against India has given the home side the much-needed momentum ahead of the three-match T20I series.

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Sky247 Staff
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Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes that a victory in the final ODI against India has given the home side the much-needed momentum ahead of the three-match T20I series. The first match will be played on Sunday and Murali feels Sri Lanka will be very confident going into the game.

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Although the Lankan Lions have consecutively lost five T20I series, the 49-year-old has backed the team to play well in the three games versus India. During the last two ODIs, the team gave a tough fight to the visitors and Murali feels the home side will look to take inspiration from those two performances.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, the former Sri Lankan off-spinner opined why the shortest format will suit the team more. Murali cited the example of the batters who were getting out on low scores and felt those same 30s and the 40s will be useful during the T20I matches.

"Sri Lanka will be more comfortable in T20Is than ODIs because the format is shorter. In ODIs, the 30s and 40s don't win you matches, but in T20Is they can be good enough. So they can play that way and it may suit them more than one-dayers," Muttiah Muralitharan stated. 

The 49-year-old concluded by terming India as favourites but also not ruled out the possibility of an upset from the hosts.

"India will start as favorites in the T20I series but, Sri Lanka will have an edge. This is because they would have got the belief from the last game that they can beat this side so that would have given them confidence. It is a new series and planning will change, players might also change. I would say India might have an edge in the first game but, Sri Lanka will come stronger as well," Muttiah Muralitharan signed off.

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